Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia has all the makings of a future superstar, and he turned heads, especially Jose Mourinho's, to start this preseason session with an insane physique and the mentality that he wants to continue to push the Royal Whites into keeping him in the first team with his ultimate dream of pushing Kylian Mbappe for the starting job, as impossible as that sounds.
Garcia began the summer transfer window hearing rumors of his potential sale as Borussia Dortmund were highly interested, but those rumors were quelled by Mourinho, who has become more and more enticed by Garcia, especially after watching him ball out during practices. And with the opening goal against Leganes in the first preseason game, Garcia gave Real even more to think about.
The problem is that someone has to go. Real Madrid are loaning out Franco Mastantuono, but with Brahim Diaz still staying, Endrick already coming back from loan after proving himself in Ligue 1 with Lyon, and Yan Diomande now coming aboard as a 120 million euro (ish) signing, Garcia may need to head out on loan for the experience anyway.
Fulham are close to Gonzalo Garcia now
Fulham really, really want him. They are willing to spend a lot to sign him now, just like Como with Nico Paz, and while Real Madrid will keep the rights to him, the Cottagers and their new manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, are smitten with Gonzalo Garcia as THE solution for them at striker in the 2026/27 season as they look to charge to European football.
According to a report from Mario Cortegana and Guillermo Rai of The Athletic, not only are Fulham advancing on a deal for the best player currently at Real Madrid Castilla, attacking midfielder Cesar Palacios, they are also closing in on Gonzalo and confident they can land both top prospects for Arbeloa from his old team. And better yet from a Fulham perspective, both Palacios and Garcia want to play for Arbeloa, too.
Jose Mourinho will not be happy about this. Not that he does not like Alvaro Arbeloa or want his old right back from his first stint at Real Madrid to succeed in his first "real" big manager job, but he really was loving Garcia and saw an important role for him as the only true out and out No. 9 profile in the first team squad. Now, it looks like Garcia is headed to Fulham, and while Real can bring him back and this is the better deal for them in the long run, it could hurt Mou at some point in 2026/27.
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